Post updated in June 2026
When we are designing the festival distribution strategy, we need to know the most important ones and where it is worthwhile to submit our film, especially because there are thousands of festivals around the world.
The question we always ask ourselves is the same: Where do we start?
To answer it, we have several options. One of them is to consult various festival lists published by institutions around the world that are linked to the awards they grant to short films.
Although I have already discussed some of them, these days I am beginning to prepare the distribution strategy for several short films, and therefore, reviewing some of these lists. In addition to being a very good reference for discovering festivals, they also allow us to participate in these awards. These are the seven lists:
#1 Oscar Awards
The first major reference is the Oscar Awards, which have one list for fiction and animation, and a different one for documentaries. They have recently published a specific list for short films from film schools. There are several posts I have dedicated to these awards, and you can also download the lists sorted by deadline date in the form you will see below.
These lists allow us, above all, to discover the most important festivals in the United States. They also include other festivals in various countries and in Europe. At this link you can download the lists directly from the Hollywood Academy website.
#2 Goya Awards
Although the Goya Awards use the Oscar list as a reference, it helps us to have a list of the most important Spanish festivals. We are now waiting for the new regulations to be published, where we will see if there are new festivals joining the list. Although I have also published several articles on the Goyas, here is the link on the Academy website.
#3 EFA Awards
The European Film Academy awards select a series of festivals where an award is granted that automatically nominates, therefore it is a small list of about 15 festivals, but where some of the most important ones at European level can be found. You can consult it, along with the shorts that are already nominated, at this link.
#4 BAFTA Awards
The British Academy awards are also based on a list of festivals, some of which coincide with those already mentioned. These awards allow us, above all, to discover festivals in the United Kingdom. There are two lists: one where only a selection is necessary, and another where at least two selections must be obtained. This is the link to view the lists.
#5 Méliès d’Or Awards
The European Fantastic Film Festival Federation annually grants the Méliès d’Or Awards. The nominees are announced through specific awards at each of the festivals that are part of this federation. Therefore, they are essential for discovering the most important fantastic film festivals, whose list you can view at this link.
#6 Cinema Eye Honors Awards
In the case of documentary and non-fiction film, the reference is the Cinema Eye Honors. These awards are organized in the United States by some of the most important documentary festivals. To participate in them, it is necessary to be selected or win awards at some of them. Like the previous lists, these awards allow us to discover documentary festivals, as well as those that usually have a very carefully curated selection in their official competitions. This is the link with the regulations, where you can see the festivals that are part of these awards.
Among all these festivals, you can create a complete list with some of the most important and prestigious ones worldwide.